Funny game this one. Both sides made poor starts then the tail wagged and both ended up with scores much higher than seemed likely.
Our lack of experienced seam with injuries told today. Both Clare and Palladino did well, but Mark Turner was again very expensive. Smith is still feeling his way back to fitness and Whiteley needs more bowling at this level to be a genuine threat to top players. Perhaps Durston or Hughes could have been used earlier against the last pair, whose partnership left the visitors in the ascendent.
The loss of Wayne Madsen before the close wasn't in the script and tomorrow we could do with an international-class knock from Martin Guptill to restore parity. If the weather holds fair, the game seems set for another good finish.
It,s been a failing of ours for years. We get teams on the ropes and so often fail to deliver the knock-out punch. Madsen,s spasmodic form is becoming a little worrying. We need to get our heads down tomorrow and set a target for the last day.
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